9/11/10 Game Recap (2-1 Loss)

Lindsay clearing the ball

The Devils kicked off the 2010 Fall CCSL Season on Saturday with an exciting performance against the Central Valley Jaguars at the Sunnyvale Soccer Complex. Playing in the newly formed Bay Silver Elite Division, the girls were pegged against a former Class 1, Division 1 team. They would fight to tie the game midway through the 2nd half, but would surrender the game winner with six minutes to play to fall 2-1.

It was a great introduction to the higher level of play that the Devils fought to achieve by winning the Delgado A Division last year. The competition was certainly faster and more skilled than what the Devils had grown accustomed to seeing, but they met the challenge head on.

They would get things going early with a steady dose of pressure in the Jaguars zone. Courtney setup the game’s first scoring chance with a pretty cross in the 3rd minute that was cleared by a Jaguar defender. The pass forced a sliding save in the box in order to prevent the Devils from cashing in.

Ruhi guarding the backline

The majority of the first half was played in the Central Valley, but an errant break led to a Jaguars goal in the 19th minute. A lead pass deflected landed on eh boot of a jaguars striker on the right side. The initial shot was turned away by Akayla who made the start in goal. The deflection was chipped over to the left in a wild scrum, where another Jaguars forward fired home the game’s first goal.

Sunnyvale continued to pressure in the Jaguars zone, getting off a pair of shots that sailed wide of the net.

They just missed on a golden chance 4 minutes into the 2nd half after Akayla, now at forward, carried a pass up the right side and ripped a shot off the Central Valley goal keeper. The ball pin-balled in the box for several seconds before being cleared to safety.

Kelly had a solid game

The Devils would tie it up in the 44th minute on a wild sequence in front of the Central Valley net. Courtney started things with a big shot from the right side that kicked back out to the 18. Grace followed up with another shot that hit a defender and deflected back to Courtney for the follow up shot. She would chip the ball wide of the keeper, finding the back of the net for the 1-1 tie.

Central Valley would lean on their experience late in the game to convert the game winner. With 6 minutes to play, the Jaguars would send a corner kick into the box from the right side. Sensing that the clock was winding down on the game, they flooded the box with their mids. The devils would encounter some bad luck when a great attempt to clear the ball by Kelly deflected off a Jaguars player into the net for the 2-1 lead.

Celebrating a goal

The Devils would make a mad rush at the end of the game to try and bag the equalizer, but a push in the Central Valley zone just came up short. It was an exciting ending to a well played game.

While the game’s outcome wasn’t what the team had hoped, the performance was outstanding. The coaches raved about the play of each player after the game.

Game Positives—

Ready to Play: The girls picked up were they left off in the Spring with a combination of fantastic team play. They were well prepared to take on a highly skilled team that was quick.

Utilizing Skills: Several players executed some of the higher level skills that have been part of the training regimen over the last couple of months. Lateral ball movement and overlap runs were on display during the game.

Attitude: After showing so much success the past three seasons, it would have been easy for the girls to hang their heads after losing for the first time in league in three Fall seasons, but they ended the game the same way they started it. Successful athletes don’t get too high or too low after a performance, and this is a natural trait of this team.


Development Areas—

Trusting Instincts: As expected, the quickness of the game resulted in some hasty decisions with the ball. In some cases, the girls had time to make a play with the ball, but panicked and immediately kicked it away without finding a target or electing to dribble. There needs to be more trust in their skills, which are more than capable of handling these types of situations.

Playing Balls in the Air: As has been a constant issue, balls in the air continue to be a blemish in the team’s overall game. The failure to utilize chest traps and head balls is resulting in lost chances to control the ball.

Strong Showing at Spring District 2 Cup

The Devils concluded the Spring Season with a fantastic showing at the District 2 Cup, held at Evergreen College last weekend. The Devils won both of their pool games on Saturday, earning the top seed in the playoff round on Sunday, but fell to the Hollister Tremors in a 1-0 nail biter on Sunday.

Pool play started early Saturday morning with an 8:15am game that pegged the Devils against the Central Valley Jaguars. The girls have struggled historically in early morning games, but they came out firing in this contest.

Christene opened the games scoring on a deflection off the goaltender just 8 minutes in. Courtney set up the goal sending a cross from the right corner, after navigating past a defender along the right sideline. As the pass crossed through the box, the Jaguars keeper failed to control the ball. Christene charged up the middle and chipped home the 5-footer for the 1-0 lead.

The Jaguars would answer 5 minutes later on a 35-foot shot from the left side. E, the Devils keeper was lined up with the shot, but the ball skipped on the wet grass then took a crazy hop, redirecting to the right and into the net.

The Devils made it 2-1 on a put back after Grace put a 40-foot shot on goal from the left side. The Jaguars keeper got a hand on the shot, but the deflection bounced right to Courtney, who was positioned on the right side. She would easily deposit the ball for the goal.

Half time was as entertaining as the first half. The girls reported that a gopher popped his head up in the middle of the pitch while play was going on, catching some of the action up close.

The 2nd half of the contest would be highlighted by the defense who snuffed out every Jaguars chance. Audrey played in goal and only handled the ball twice in the entire half. The fullbacks did a great job at anticipating opposing passes and communicating where the ball was being played.

The midfielders controlled the field and setup several scoring chances, including a shot attempt by Marlene that was stopped by the Jaguars keeper with 8 minutes to play.

In the Saturday nightcap, the Devils offense opened up and stormed to a 3-0 win over the Monterey Blizzards. The Devils wasted no time taking the early lead. Kelly punched a 20-foot shot from center-mid that clipped a defender and redirected past the Blizzards keeper for the 1-0 lead, just 2 minutes into the game.

Audrey converted 5 min later on a chip shot from the center of the small box after Courtney sent another beautiful cross from the right side.

Christene started the 2nd half in goal and came up big. A Blizzards free-kick headed for the goal before the keeper gloved the shot on the run. She would make another big save later in the half when another shot found it’s way deep into the box.

Courtney would cap the game’s scoring when she knocked home a 20-foot blast from the top of the box. r Audrey carried the ball up the left side before sliding a pass to her right. Courtney carried the ball up the middle, before firing a shot that sailed over the Blizzard keeper’s head.

The Devils turned in more great soccer on Sunday, but they came up short in the single elimination playoff round. Facing the same Tremors team that they beat in the last regular season game three weeks earlier, Hollister had revenge in mind.

The games were similar in that the Devils held the ball in the Hollister zone for 70% of the game, but Hollister would take advantage of their lone chance deep in the Devils zone. The Devils had plenty of shots on goal, but the Tremors keeper played a huge game.

Jojo would open the shot-fest with a nice attempt from the right side that was gloved in the 3rd minute. Another shot attempt from the right corner that straddled the goal line before hitting the left post 2 minutes later.

Hollister would strike with the game’s only goal on a series of pin balling shots that landed on a right wings foot for a 15 foot bullet 10 minutes into the game. The Devils would put 4 shots on goal before the half closed out, but the Tremor’s keeper stopped everything that came her way.

The Devils continued to control the ball in the 2nd half, but the Tremors played their mids back to preserve the slim lead.

The Devils would get their best chance to score with 3 minutes to play when Grace took a pass at midfield and raced up the gut before putting a 20-foot shot on goal. The shot was a bullet, but once again the Tremors keeper knocked the head-high shot down before snagging the ball to squelch the scoring chance.

The final whistle would sound, ending the Devils run, but the tournament was a big success for the girls. They allowed a paltry 3 goals in 3 games during the weekend, continuing their fantastic defense play. The offense also started to work well with each other, stringing together legitimate scoring chances by placing the ball with precision passing. A fantastic showing all around.

Spring 2009 Game 4 Photos

[Click here] for a slideshow

[Click here] for all photos

4/25/09 Game Recap (0-0 Tie)

Playing on the road for the first time this Spring, the Devils turned in another defensive gem, tying the Central Valley Jaguars 0-0 at Femmatre Middle School in San Jose on Saturday. The Devils held the Jaguars to a single shot on goal, while applying plenty of offensive pressure on their cross-town opponents.

Courtney turned in a fine performance, demonstrating her quickness on the right side. She employed several crossing chances that setup scoring chances for the other forwards.

Marlene almost converted midway through the first half with a shot that hit the goaltender in the arm and slipped through her grasp. With the ball rolling toward the goal, Courtney pursued the loose ball, but the keeper pounced on it with a big lunge before the Devils forward could reach the ball.

Jess has quietly become a solid defender, and her initiative to the ball is being recognized by the coaching staff. She played one of the most aggressive games we’ve seen from a Devils backliner, stopping offensive chances by anticipating passes and moving to the ball well.

The Devils almost scored what may have been the games only goal early in the second half with a booming shot from well outside the box. A Jaguars defender just managed to step in front of the shot, deflecting it just enough to push the ball wide of the right post. The shot only missed by an agonizing 2 to 3 feet.

Sammie played with cool confidence on the backline, stepping into several attempts by the Jaguars to move the ball up the line. She has become more fearless when an opposing player tries to barrel up the line. She used her strength to flat out stonewall several attempts by the Jaguars to encroach into the Devils zone on Saturday.

Game Positives—

Good Offensive Drives: When we gained possession of the ball, the forwards and mids drove to the goal in proper formations, which enabled several quality scoring chances.

Crosses: The forwards are starting to employ crosses much more effectively. Courtney had several chances from the right side, and Christene put two chances into the box from the left side.

Defense: The mid and full backs were well positioned and did a great job of stepping into shooting lanes when the opposition would wind up for a shot. The defense limited the Jaguars to two shots on goal, both of which were not high percentage shots.

Development Areas—

Right of Way: There were numerous occurrences of players stepping into the path of a teammate who had control of the ball, or would try to overtake a teammate when facing the wrong direction.

Lack of Shooting: Rather than taking shots when the opportunities arose, we had too many instances of ball handlers trying to walk the ball deeper into the attacking zone.

Defensive Stance: While the overall defense was fantastic, we had several instances of the defenders be flat footed with hips open to the attacker, rather than being in the defensive stance that we have been practicing. This led to attackers moving around the defense.

Fall 2008 Jaguars Scrimmage Photos

[Click here] for a slideshow

[Click here] for all photos

Devils keep rolling in Jaguars scrimmage

The Devils returned to the field where it all started on Saturday afternoon in a friendly scrimmage with the CV Jaguars, a Group A team from the Delgado Tier 3 pool. It was only last spring when the Devils defeated the Jaguars in their first game as an organized competitive team, winning 2-0 against the same Jaguars. That would be the only game the Jaguars lost during the spring season, which elevated them to Group A.

This time, the game was an opportunity for both teams to stay focused during a long break in between regular league games. The Devils turned in another strong performance, in the modified contest, which featured three 25-minute running periods.

The Devils coaching staff also used it as an opportunity to rotate the girls through all positions. This provided everyone with a chance to show their stuff in areas they don’t normally play.

After a scoreless initial period, the rotations began to open things up. Marlene would break the ice with a breakaway goal three minutes in. Shivani setup the goal with a pretty lead pass from the right mid position. Drawing a defender away from the center full spot, she feathered a pass up the slot to Marlene, who slipped a shot past the Jaguars goaltender.

With the confidence of that early goal, the Devils began to press more on offense. Another breakaway chance was thwarted four minutes later when a whistle sounded on a neighboring field just as Courtney slipped past two Jaguars defenders at the top of the box. Thinking play had been whistled dead, all three players slowed down. When the referee indicated that play was still live, the goaltender cleared the ball to safety.

Courtney would exact some revenge with two minutes to play in the period. After the Devls defense pushed the ball up the right sideline, Courtney streaked up the line, then drew the goaltender out to defend the right side of the net. Displaying great patience, Courtney then sent a crossing shot that slipped inside the left post for the 2-0 lead.

Ruhi, Christene, Karsyn, Lindsay and Jessica teamed up to anchor a stingy defense which allowed few scoring chances.

The Jaguars would score in the 3rd period on a break after Karsyn misread the line a Jaguar forward was taking.

The momentum could have easily shifted back to the Jaguars, but Audrey, Kelly and Ruhi kept the ball in the Jaguars zone for a stretch of about 4 minutes with great ball handling near the right corner. This setup multiple corner opportunities, and several Jaguar goal kicks.

Marlene would push the Devils lead back to two goals by sending in a shot from 45-feet that tucked just inside the left post.

The scrimmage ended as a success, keeping the Devils momentum rolling and building on the girls confidence

The day was capped off with a couple notables. Each player presented a Jaguars player with a treat bag after the game as a thank you for hosting the scrimmage. Special thanks to Judy C. the Devils Team Manager for arranging the gifts. Karsyn also celebrated her 9th birthday with a round of cupcakes, that were in the words of her brother Ryan, “jy-nan-tic”!

Jaguars Scrimmage Update

Details regarding a scrimmage against the CV Jaguars Blue on Saturday (10/25) are still being worked out. If it does happen, it looks as if the event will take place on Saturday afternoon at a CV field.

More details will be posted once they become available.